Using Standardized Patients to Teach Disease Management Skills to Preclinical Students: A Pilot Project

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physician adherence to practice guidelines has been poor. Exposure to such guidelines is not a routine part of medical school curricula. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine whether standardized patients could be used to teach preclinical students the skills to manage a patient with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Students were assigned a standardized patient with hyperglycemia. The students were given guidelines on the management of diabetes and told to manage the patient appropriately. Patients' charts were reviewed to determine if all cardiovascular risks were managed appropriately. RESULTS: Students successfully managed all cardiovascular risks according to published guidelines. Participants overwhelmingly believed this methodology was a valuable way to teach disease management. CONCLUSION: Second-year students can use practice guidelines to successfully manage patients with diabetes. The students' performance exceeded the standards of care found in the published literature. This problem-based approach may be an ideal way to teach disease management.